Earthquake hits Italy: Powerful 6.2 magnitude quake rattles Rome

Rome: A powerful earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter Scale jolted Rome, capital city of Italy on early Wednesday. The strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude estimated at 6.2 struck near the city of Perugia. “The quake, located 47 miles (76 km) southeast of Perugia, occurred at 3:36am (0136 GMT),” news agency ANI reported quoting the US Geological Survey. The quake was followed by another smaller tremor registering 4.8 on the Richter scale. Strong tremors were felt throughout the whole of central Italy including Rome. According to local media, the earthquake was really strong, however there were no immediate reports of damage or casualty. Social media users in Rimini, Rome and Pescara said to have felt the quake shocks.

According to the state-run Radio Rai, people were seen running on streets in central Umbria and Le Marche regions shortly after the quake struck. ”We felt the quake really strong. Confused situation. No damages to people reported so far, in Norcia people on the streets to monitor damages. Still feeling aftershocks,” Alessandro Orfei, a journalist working for local news, told Radio Rai. The European Mediterranean Seismological Center put the magnitude at 6.1 and said the epicenter was northeast of Rome, near Rieti.

The mayor of Amatrice, Sergio Pirozzi, has called the quake a “tragedy”. ”I’m trying to contact the services. The town doesn’t exist anymore. The ancient doors have come down. We need help from the civic protection. There is no light, it’s all gone off. It’s all rubble, it’s a tragedy,” said Amatrice. The quake lasted for about 20 seconds, said Republica newspaper. The tremors were felt across the peninsula from the Tirreno Sea to the Adriatic Sea.

Rome: A powerful earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter Scale jolted Rome, capital city of Italy on early Wednesday. The strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude estimated at 6.2 struck near the city of Perugia. “The quake, located 47 miles (76 km) southeast of Perugia, occurred at 3:36am (0136...